Road-cart



(No Model.)-

. L. BURG. ROAD CART.

No. 443,592. Patented Dec. 30, 189-0.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LEWIS BURG, OF FARMINGTOJ, IOIVA.

ROAD-CART.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 443,592, dated December 30, 1890.

Application filed $eptember 25,1890. Serial No. 366,077. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, LEWIS BURG, a citizen of the United States, residing at Farmington, in the county of Van Buren and State of Iowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Road-Carts; and I. do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form part of this specification.

My invention relates to that class of two wheeled vehicles commonly known as roadcarts; and it has special reference to the construction of the shafts and to the means for breaking or neutralizing the motions of the horse in order to avoid the rocking or jolting motion of the body of the cartincident to the use of continuous shafts.

The invention therefore consists in making the shafts in two parts, in flexibly connecting the two parts so as to permit the front section to vibrate independently of the rear section, and in a peculiar arrangement of double-acting spring-cushions to hold the two sections normally in proper relation to each other, all as will be hereinafter fully described, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate my invention and form part of this specification, Figure 1 is a perspective view of the cart with the body removed, showing the connection between the two sections of the shafts and the manner of applying the spring-cushions. Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation, the section being taken on the line a: at in Fig. 1, looking toward the rear. Fig. 3 is a perspective View of one of the shafts, showin g the spring-cushion applied forward of the connection between the two sections. Figs. 4 and 5 are similar views showing amodified form of spring-cushions applied-in one case in rear and in the other case in front of the connection between the two sections. Fig. 6 is a similar View, showing a further modification, in which a single spring acting in both directions is used. The foregoing views show the two sections of the shafts connected by pivot connection. Fig. 7 is a perspective view showing a flexible connection between the two sections, and Fig. 8 is a sectional elevation, the section being taken on the lineyy in Fig. 7. Fig. 9 is a perspective view of a bearing-block to be used in connection with the coiled springs shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3.

A A designate the rear sections of the shafts, which are joined by a cross-bar a and connected with the axle B in the usual or any preferred manner. These sections are approximately about half the length of the entire shaft and are pieced out to the required length by front sections 0 C. These sections are hinged or pivotally connected'by means of journals 0, projecting out from the side of one set of sections into boxes or keepers d on the end of the other set of sections, so that the said front sections are capable of swinging or vibrating on said pivots independently of the rear sections.

The front sections 0 are preferably arranged on the outer sides of the rear sections and their rear ends overlaphat is, project past the front ends of said rear sections, as shown in the drawings.

Each rear section A carries a yoke D rigidly secured thereto, into or through which the front section projects. I

In Figs. 1, 4, and 6 I show the yoke D arranged in rear of the pivoted connection between the two sections, while in Figs. 3, 5, and 7 it is shown in front of said connection.

As indicated, it may be arranged at either side without departing from the spirit of my invention.

E E designate springs arranged above and below the front section 0 within the yoke D, one spring pressing said front section down and the other pressing it up, the two together holding it normally in line with the rear sect-ion.

In Figs. 1, 2, and 3 I show coiled or spiral springs, in Figs. 4-, 5, and 7 fiat springs bolted against the upper and under sides of the front section, their free ends projecting into the yokeD and bearing in opposite directions, while in Fig. 6 I show a single straight double acting spring F, connected bot-l1 to the front and rear sections and arranged to hold the front section normally on the same horizontal plane with the rear section, or in a central position in the yoke D.

Instead of the pivotal connection between the two sections A O, as shown in Figs. 1, 3,

at, 5, and 6, I may employ the flexible connection shown in Figs. 7 and This consists of a coiled spring G, arranged between the two sections and having one end connected with one and the other end with the other of the two sections. This forms an elastic or spring joint which will re-euforce the springs E E.

In order to attain to the fullest possible extent the object of my invention, I locate the joint'between the sections and the bearingpoint of the springs as far forward of the body of the cart as practicable and independent thereof, regard being had for the amount of leverage between said two points necessary to bring the springs into full action. I therefore extend the rear section A well forward-say to a point at or near the mid length of the entire shaft-hereby I am enabled to locate the yoke I) well forward also, thus securing the full action of the springs and permitting a sufficient vibration of the front section 0 to take up the rising and falling movements of the horse when in motion. Also, by locating both the springs E E on the same side of the pivot or joint I am enabled to use upper and lower springs of the same shape, size, and strength, thus making them interchangeable, which would not be practicable if they were arranged on opposite sides, on account of unequal leverage. Further, by my arrangement 1 am enabled to change the leverage between the yoke l) and hinge to compensate for different loads by simply changing the location of the hinge without changing or moving the springs.

\Vhen coiled springs E E are used, they are retained in place by bearing-blocks ll, constructed as shown in Fig. 9, which are bolted either to the shaft-sections or to the yokes D, or to both, the conical points of said blocks projecting into the central space in the ends of the springs to hold the latter in place.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is

1. In a road-cart, the combination,with the shafts made in two sections, a part of the front section overlapping a part of the side of the rear section in front of the body of the cart, the overlapping parts being hinged together from the end of one section to the side of the other section, of a yoke secured to and projecting from the side of one of the overlapping parts, the other overlapping part being on the same plane and passing through the yoke and having a spring in the yoke practically holding the two sections on the same horizontal plane, as and for the purpose set forth.

2. The combination,with the shafts made in two sections, a part of the front section overlapping a part of the side of the rear section in front of the body of the cart, the ovcrlapping parts being hinged together at the end of one of the parts, of a yoke secured to the end and projecting from the side of one of the parts, the other overlapping part passing through the yoke and havingsprings secured to its upper and lower sides with their bearings in the yoke, the said springs acting in adverse directions, as and for the purpose set forth.

3. The combination, with the shafts made in two sections, their connecting ends overlapping each other on their sides, a yoke scoured to the end and projecting from the side of one of the parts, the other overlapping part passing through the yoke and having springs on its upper and lower sides with their bearings in the yoke, of a flexible connection holding the two sections together, as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereofl a tin my signature in presence of two witnesses.

LEWIS BUHG.

Witnesses:

Josnrn SI'JWELL, W. 1). McCormick. 

